#zm2015

The gravel reflected the lights of the bar and streetlights, and the occasional headlights of a car that passed. The gray sky made it impossible to see the stars that danced in the sky, but the moon peeked out an inkling, granting his dark world with a little light. He took a deep breath, sighing and watching his cold breath form a puff of fog. With hands shoved in pockets and a hood thrown over his head, he sauntered across the gravel and into the bar.

A brick wall took the entirety of the back with a hallway all the way to the left for possibly the washrooms. The place looked rustic and not really a bar type, with light bulbs hung bare from the ceiling by a wire varying in length. The bar countertop was a straight black wood that didn't look as damaged as he expected. Red stools lined it the entirety of the way, many pulled out seating many people. Most of the men stood, leaned over some girl trying to get some. The faded dark brown hardwood floor had many scratches in it from the busy nightlife of the place.

Across the room, televisions playing the big game for all different sports and sole featuring the news hung on the walls with subtitles flashing. Booths hugged the wall and tables with red stools scattered across the floor. All except for two, Zuko counted, were full.

The bar seemed more of a casual, laid back type than the party type, but something about this place drew the crowd. There wasn't a club vibe with a dance floor and loud dance music, but a warm, and friendly place. A place where friends can come and mingle and drink to drink, not drink to get drunk. Even the bartenders were dressed in casual wear rather than something formal for the men and three pieces of fabric sewn together for the ladies.

Zuko slipped his hood off, taking long strides to the bar. He sat at one of the red stools and looked around for the face he wanted to recognize. He knew she worked as a bartender here, she told him herself back when he met her in the library of the college they both attended earlier that year. Now that it’s winter break and both have gone home to work, relax, and spend time with family, they no longer talked as much. Even though Zuko was home for three days, it didn’t feel like home. His father was gone, out of town in some foreign country, and Azula had her boyfriend. All she did was attack Zuko or make-out with her boyfriend until they found her room. So, Zuko flew out here, to see the bar and her.

“What’ll it be?” asked a voice he was familiar with, hers.

He looked up, his eyes catching hers. Her eyes grew wide recognizing him.

“Zuko?” She asked, a smile jumping to her lips.

He nodded, smiling with her. “It’s nice to see you again,” he responded, his voice raspy and low.

“You too, but-” She shook her head, closing her eyes for a second, “why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your family?”

“My dad’s out of town and my sister has her boyfriend over for the next month or so. Doesn’t really feel like family over there,” he shrugged.

“Ah, I see,” She nodded, grabbing a glass and filling it with whiskey. She knew what he liked, spending time with him back at the campus. He took it hard, but she wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe he just liked the immediate buzz, or the way it burned down his throat. All she knew was that he took it on the rocks and plain, old whiskey. “Here,” She pushed to glass towards him, “on the house.”

“Thanks,” He smiled, wrapping a hand around the glass and knocking it back, letting the alcohol burn his throat. After he swallowed, he looked up at her. “So, how’s it feel to be back home?”

“It’s nice, actually. I missed Sokka, Gran Gran, and Dad. Sokka has Suki over, so I can kind of relate to your sister. But I’m sure Sokka and Suki behave better than they do. Suki and I get along really well,” She smiled, taking his glass and filling it up again.

“I’m glad your family is close, I wonder what that feels like.”

At home, Zuko lived in a mansion. Everyone was so far apart from each other all the time. The long dining room table they always sat at, yelling to talk to one another. Everyone was so distant. He barely knew Azula and what was going on with her life. His dad was usually never around or with a girl he met at a party the night before. Neither cared to ask Zuko about college life or his friends or possible girlfriends.

“You don’t deserve a family like that,” She paused, “Maybe you could stay with us. Our house isn’t too big, so you’d probably have to sleep on the couch or with Sokka. Suki sleeps in my room or on the couch with Sokka, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. My dad might be a little rough, but he’d like to meet some of my friends from the campus.”

He stopped, looking up at her with wide eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah! You need a family and a winter break you can actually enjoy. The hotels around here are overpriced anyways, even though tourism really isn’t our biggest feat. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

“Thank you, Katara,” He smiled, wrapping his fingers around the glass before downing yet another whiskey.

She kept refilling his glass, and it was probably around his fourth or fifth glass by now. She refilled and handed him another one before looking at the clock. They’ve been talking, laughing, and drinking - well, Zuko’s been drinking.

“My shift’s over, I’ll be right back.” Katara walked away, towards the back room. His eyes followed her until she was no longer in sight. He finished his drink, setting the glass down. He knew he was a bit drunk, he noticed when he could hear his words starting to slur. He asked another bartender for another one, handing over the glass to the guy. Katara came back shortly after, taking the seat next to him.

“I know you’re drunk, Zuko,” She laughed, watching as he finished his next glass.

The bartender came back, and Zuko ordered another one. Katara asked for a water. “This will be my last one,” He said, trying not to slur.

“No, it won’t,” she panned, “I know you.”

He didn’t know why, but he started giggling. Soon, the giggling turned into a chuckle, and then full blown laughter. Katara didn’t say anything funny, but somehow it was to him. He knew she was right. This wasn’t going to be the last one. He always drinks until he’s drunk. He gets this quirk from his dad. Genetically or habitually, he wasn’t sure. His laughter died down as soon as he saw the drink sitting in front of him. He downed that one in a gulp or two, his body aching for more. He was addicted to the sudden buzz that fueled his drunkenness. The bartender returned, and filled him up with another one. When the bartender returned, he looked to Katara and nodded towards Zuko as he spoke. “You gonna take care of him?”

“Yeah, Mike, I got him. This one’s mine,” She laughed, the sound somehow dancing in the air, making Zuko smile.

Mike, bartender guy, walked away, tending to other drinkers that still remained here. The hour was late, Zuko knew that. He knew it was late enough that the rain had turned into snow. He could see it, through the glass windows at the front of the bar. He downed the next glass, looking to Katara as he waited his next one.

“You know what I never noticed, Katara?” He asked, his words slurred.

“How drunk you are?” She smirked, with slight worry in her voice.

“No, not that. The way the snow lands on the ground just like your hair lands when you shake your head.”

Katara’s smirk fell as she realized what he said. Her cheeks began to turn red. Mike brought his glass back over, full again. She looked at him and said, “Last one for the night, Mike.”

He nodded and walked off. Zuko took his glass and downed it, smiling and staring at Katara. “You… are realllllllyyyyyy pretty. It’s like- looking at a….. a….. a flower.”

“Okay, Zuko, let’s go home,” she laughed, standing and waiting for Zuko to stand.

“No, I’m serious. You’re fucking gorgeous!” He laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

She took her hand and removed his arm from her shoulders and reached to wrap hers over his. “C’mon, let’s go.”

The three followed, But Aang and Sokka hesitated. Aang more so than Sokka. He found the fireworks and dancing dragons mesmerizing and stared a little too long.

“Aang!” Katara whisper yelled, hoping he'd follow.

When he took too long, Katara pulled Aang with a water lasso. “We can't get caught, air-boy.”

“They don't know what I look like though, and the festival was interesting!” Aang retorted.

“But they know what airbender clothing looks like,” Zuko butt in. “We can't risk anything, we’re almost to the harbor.”

“But-”

“No butts,” Katara seethed, checking the surroundings.

She looked back at the boys and nodded, pulling up on her hood to the long black cape. The three others followed, pulling their own hoods up, walking out onto the street. The vendors created a pathway towards the festival, selling all kinds of decor and trinkets. One stand caught Katara’s eye, and she walked towards it. Sokka had already gone off for the meat, dragging Aang along side him, despite the Avatar’s rebuttal of vegetarianism. Zuko took to following Katara, keeping his head low.

The vendor smiled to them, his eyes bright and cheeks plump. A bit odd to find in Fire Nation descent, but these were the colonies, so they're a bit different than the mainland.

“Welcome!” He chippered.

Katara smiled up at him, returning back to the beautiful masks stacked atop each other on one side and the perfectly organized array of string. She found her fingers slipping between the strands, feeling the soft, woven cotton.

“Each color means something,” the merchant interrupted with a soft voice. “That red one there means promise, and the pink one means love.”

She smiled, gripping the red string between her finger and thumb. She looked up at him when he continued talking.

“I can make you two something with the two strands. A great gift for a great couple.”

“Oh, we’re not-” Katara stuttered.

“We aren't a couple.” Zuko rushed.

“My mistake, though the two of you would make a great couple.”

Katara blushed before pulling coins out of her pocket. “The red string and four masks please.”

“Of course,” the merchant smiled, taking her money and handing the strong over.

Zuko grabbed four masks and Katara, the string. Katara chirped a goodbye, stealing a mask from Zuko. She walked a little further away from the merchant before stopping. She took the red string and pulled it taut between her hands.

“He said this string means promise, and I need you to make a promise,” Katara murmured, her voice soft and vulnerable.

Zuko had never heard it like that before. She's always been nice and helpful, selfless and caring, but this voice was like breaking down all her barriers and showing the real Katara.

“Promise me that we’ll always stick together, protect each other, and never let anything block the path. Because the merchant was right, we do make a great couple.”

“I promise.”

Katara tugged on the string in opposite directions until it snapped in half. She tied one piece around his pinky in a small bow and repeated the same for her own pinky.

“Does it really have to go there?” Zuko groaned.

“You make pinky promises, don't you?” Katara retorted, pulling the mask over her face.

He sighed, taking one of the masks he carried by the strap in his hand and covering it over his own face.

Once Sokka and Aang came into sight, Zuko tossed the masks at them. “Put them on.”

They wandered through the crowd of the festival, watching out for danger. Of course the whole event was dangerous, but the quartet has managed thus far and gas nearly made it to the harbor.

The people around them danced, ran, talked, laughed, and overall showed excitement. Entertainers were scattered on stages across the courtyard. Some dancers, others musicians, but many fire benders.

“I don't remember the colonies having this extravagant of festivals. They never cared as much as we did,” Zuko spoke, his voice raspy and slow.

“People change, many be they took on and embraced the festivities.” Katara shrugged, grabbing Zuko’s wrist and pulling him through the crowd.

“Because that's bullshit. You don't love him! You can't marry a man like that!”

“It doesn't matter whether or not I love him, all that matters is the customs of the Tribe.”

“Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

“Bullshit. This isn't you. This isn't the Katara I know.”

“People change, Zuko, get over it.”

--- before ---

“Sounds like a guy you shouldn't bring back into your life. Good riddance to him,” she said, bringing the warm tea to her lips to take a sip.

“He’s… he’s my dad. I can't just forget about him,” he said, staring at his tea.

“You can't go back to him either. The Earth Kingdom is a very welcoming place for refugees. Stay here, protect yourself from the Fire Nation,” she probably should have stopped talking, but she didn't, “From that scar, you must already have had a run down with the soldiers.”

He paused, a bit startled that she brought up the scar. “Uh, yeah, yeah.”

“You're not the only one that had to face them. A long time ago, a group attacked my village and took my mother.” She spoke, her voice growing quieter and quieter and slower and slower.

She paused for a long time, long enough that Zuko heard a sniffle or two.

“S-sorry,” She whispered.

“No, don't apologize.”

She remained quiet, as did he, and the hustle and bustle of the tea shop in a small village near Ba Sing Se was left to cover the silence.

He took this silence to look around him for the first time since he arrived yesterday. The shop was small, and the crowd even smaller, yet somehow they still managed to make a lot of noise. It was crowded enough that nobody could recognize the banished prince or the waterbending master prophesied to teach the Avatar. The two were strangers to one another, yet the longer they sat in old chairs with an array of scratches and tears, the closer they grew.

She already knew of his banishment from his home, and he knew of her mother. Though, he did not tell the full truth. He couldn’t just go out and tell this strange girl that he was the Fire Nation Prince banished because he told an officer to suck it and could not return until he had found the Avatar.

The banishment was about 2 years ago, and somehow he has managed to stay hidden from wandering eyes and Fire Nation soldiers.

Some screams and panic echoed outside, interrupting their silence. The familiar clank of armor and loud bursts of flames sounded in the narrow street as soldiers marched through the street, heading directly for the tea shop the pair sat in. Katara’s eyes darted towards the door, waiting for the soldiers to stride in. Zuko pulled his hood over his head and waited, watching her crystal blue eyes.

“Stay still, they’ll probably just walk right past,” Zuko whispered to the girl.

“I’ve lived here longer than you, and they never make trips thr-” she paused, realization glossing her eyes. “unless they found me.”

“What?”

“I’m sure you know this, but the Fire Nation is looking for the Avatar. The Avatar needs a waterbending master to teach him now that my brother has found him. An ancient Water Tribe prophecy stated that an heir to the throne would become a master waterbender at a young age and become the master the Avatar needs to learn from.”

“Oh, great,” he huffed, the heat in his hands rising.

The soldiers banged into the tea shop, sparks cascading down from the outdoor fires. The man in front took a step or two forward, then turned back towards his men. The people in the shop watched in terror, unable to move. He nodded, and the men split, surrounding the perimeter of the room and holding the infamous firebending stance, waiting to strike.

“Get them out of here,” He said, a snarl on his lips.

A couple soldiers took the innocent people out of the shop. One went towards Zuko, but the general stopped him.

“No, he’s sitting with her. Let’s keep him around.”

Before Zuko could blink, an ice dagger flicked past his head and into the soldier’s eye through the helmet. The soldier screamed in pain, reaching for the dagger before falling into chairs and to the ground, pushing the dagger further into his skull. He fidgeted for only a second more before laying flat, dead on the floor.

The soldiers around stood in awe, taking too long to return the attack. Katara no longer sat in her chair, but in her waterbending stance. She was ready to take them on, all 20 or so of them. One soldier made the mistake of making the first move. The tea from her and Zuko’s cups sliced through the air until pooling around his feet and freezing. He stood unable to move as Katara made the next move before he could react. She pulled the rest of the remaining tea from around the shop in cups left behind and forced it into a bunch of ice daggers identical to the one from before.

She glared into the eyes of all the soldiers, watching for movement. Her head snapped as one moved toward her, she shifted her weight and forced her hands out, sending the daggers and piercing the soldier to the wall through the fabric of his clothes. A couple soldiers made a run for it out the door.

“How threatening, but now that your water supply has disappeared, what are you going to do, waterbender?” The general hissed.

He looked calm and collected, standing as he watched Katara with the fury in her eyes. She dropped her stance, the remaining soldiers taking steps toward her.

“Funny thing about waterbenders, actually. We just need the tiniest bit of water and we can fight,” Katara spoke, pulling a small bottle out of her satchel and popping off the cork. She tilted the bottle upside down, a single drop of water splashing into her palm.

The water that dropped from the container recollected to form a small ball, hovering above her hand. She twisted her hand, bent her fingers, and flicked her wrist, making small shapes out of the droplet. Behind her back, her other hand flicked quickly, pulling the sweat from the men surrounding her.

“And of course, every living thing needs water to survive, and therefore water is everywhere.”

In a flash, she bent the sweat and droplet and remaining water she could find outwards, trapping the general and his men in ice on the walls.

“Run!” she yelled, grabbing Zuko by the cloth of his clothes.

The pair ran and ran, jumping through the crowds and dodging people and vendor carts. Katara turned a corner sharply and bent the water from a barrel into a slick sheet of ice across the cobblestones. She fell to her knees and slid across and under a trapdoor.

Zuko stopped at the beginning of her ice sheet, but when he noticed the crowd breaking apart for a handful of soldiers, he took a deep breath and followed suit. As soon as Zuko landed on the dirt floor underneath the trap door, Katara melted her ice sheet and pulled the water into a canteen.

“Lock it, please,” Katara said, walking further into the tunnel.

Zuko stared at her for a second before looking up to see a lock. He pushed the lock closed and followed her.

“I’m Katara,” she spoke, “since we didn’t really introduce ourselves back at the tea shop.”

“Uh, Zuko, the name’s Zuko.”

“I knew I recognized you.”

“What?”

“Not anyone just has that prominent of a scar on his face, let alone gold eyes and black hair - in the Earth Kingdom.”

“The Earth Kingdom doesn’t hold people like you all over the place either.”

“Lucky for me, I’m not the only Water Tribe living amongst the Earth Kingdom people, so nobody really notices. However, there aren’t any Fire Nation refugees around here, so it’s pretty easy to spot you out.”

“Nobody really noticed.”

“Well, good thing I’m observant, right?” She laughed, stopping for a second. “Now, you’re a firebender, we’re gonna need some light.”

“Don’t you know the way?”

“Of course, but I’ll gladly take some light for once down this passageway.”

He groaned and let a ball of flame dance above his fingertips. “You aren’t afraid?”

“I’m a waterbender and I’m not stupid. There’s reason why I took that water in this canteen,” she nudged his shoulder with her elbow, “just in case.”

They walked down the tunnel, lead by Katara and Zuko’s fire. It didn’t take as long as Zuko had anticipated, but when Katara stopped, he could see the shadow of a room with miscellaneous items organized neatly. Katara opened her canteen and pulled the water from it, then pushing the water into a small bottle. The bottle was similar to the one that had the single drop in it, but was slightly bigger, and started glowing once she pushed the cork into it.

“What is this place?” Zuko asked, his head examining the room.

“Our little secret.”

--- somewhere in between ---

Fire Nation soldiers surrounded them, their hands tied and mouths gagged. The same general from the tea shop before circled around Zuko and Katara.

“Got you, waterbender, and won’t Ozai be pleased to see his son has joined you, too,” He snickered, his voice sending chills down Katara’s back, fueling her anger.

The general kept circling them and snickering, saying things that he knew irked the waterbender. It felt like years had passed with how long he kept them there, but he should’ve been smarter. He should’ve expected more than just the two of them. Katara snapped her head, watching the general, waiting to give the signal to her brother, but Zuko took initiative.

Right then, Sokka noticed Zuko’s hands signing the signal for them. Sokka flicked his wrist, sending the boomerang around the soldiers, knocking each one out one by one. The general snapped into action, grabbing ahold of Katara and a soldier, Zuko. The soldier was much smaller than Zuko expected, and he easily overpowered him with a kick to the groin and stream of fire that burnt his tie and possibly the soldier.

Sokka and Aang jumped down, the wind from Aang sending dust and dirt everywhere. Katara took this opportunity to try to free herself, but his grip became hotter and tighter the more she struggled. One hand let go her wrist and pulled a knife to her throat. The dust cleared and the three boys stood staring at Katara and the general.

Katara’s chest fell in heavy, scattered breaths as drops of sweat dripped from her forehead. Her eyes remained on the sharp metal so close to her throat, terrified of what he might do. For only a split second, she looked to her brother, the Avatar, and Zuko. She shook her head slowly, telling the boys to get out of here. They hesitated, but she kept shaking her head. Aang and Sokka started into a light jog, but Zuko stayed. He stared into her eyes, but she kept telling him no.

“Zuko, we have to go,” Aang tugged on his clothing. “Let’s go!”

It took a couple tugs before Zuko let up and ran away, looking back as the general pushed Katara to the ground, and driving the knife into her side.

A few weeks passed and Zuko sat on the roof above the trapdoor, whittling away at some stick to make a sharp end. The moon lit the streets, casting long shadows. A slight breeze threatened to pull the hood from his head. He stopped whittling when he heard a shuffle of the rooftop shingles behind him. He turned around slowly, hiding the spear just in case he needed to use it.

“Wait, Zuko, it’s just me. Our little secret, okay?” Katara whispered, her hands moving into a defensive position.

His eyes widened as he rushed to stand, running to Katara and embracing her in a hug. It took a second and her arms wrapped around him. He hugged her tight, but released when she did. He looked her in the eyes, opening his mouth to say something, but she cut him off.

“I killed him and threw his information on us into the ocean, but that’s not important. We can’t stay here anymore. We have to go back to the Water Tribe.”

“What?”